Passports

[Caladan 19]

C. had a nightmarish time trying to get his: sixteen weeks, all told. Two things slowed us down. Mr. Genius decided not to bother finding a witness and filled out the extra form and swore to it at the local office, so that added some processing time. Then, he lives way the hell out in the country, and was working out of town, so they would leave a note in the mailbox for him to pick up this certified package, and then he wouldn't be home in time before they'd send it back, and so it bounced around in transit for two months.

Bear in mind that in January, you need a passport to fly to the U.S., and Passport Canada also notes that the end of the year, traditionally a heavy travel time, is also a heavy processing time normally for passports.

[misa 2]

I say, go and stick it out at the passport office instead of mailing it in. Canada Post sucks... You'll feel better knowing after you apply in person that they give you a definite pick-up date.

If you do your application online (not the pdf, actually fill out online and be able to save all the info and come back to it later) and then print out, have everything organised when you get there to get a ticket number, they will usually fast track you to a speedier window.

Edited November 29, 2006 by misa

[Emancipation 2]

I also know if you take the Passport Application to your local MP's office they will courier it to Ottawa for you as well as track the status of it if you keep on them. It may not be helpful for big city people who have application processing offices in their town, but for those of us in small town, it's an easy way to get it out with very little cost.

[girl 37 7]

You had better get going on that passport now. While you can use your BC to travel right now, that is about to change. I believe the date is set for Jan 27 2007. After that date, ALL persons entering the US will need a passport. And, if there is a last minute rush, the system will take longer for you to get yours. The US is already seeing this rush of people applying before the cut-off date.

It's Jan 23 / 07, not Jan 27.